Carrying fixture



-Marh 9; 1943. R. H. JOHANSEN 2,313,553

- CARRYING-FIXTURE Filed March a. 1939' .272 y dc 5. Jb/ianserz' Patented Mar. 9, 1943 2,313,553 CARRYINGFIXTURE Rolf Hjorth J ohansen, Oslo, Norway; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application March 8, 1939,

Serial No. 260,643

In Norway April 22, 1938 4 Claims.

In carrying-fixtures provided with carrying straps, for instance knapsacks, frames, baskets and the like, the carrying straps have been firmly secured to the fixture and for that reason they have not been able to adjust themselves in accordance with the movements of the body of the carrier, and have therefore during walking or running applied an alternating increase in the pressure on the shoulders.

In order to remove this drawback it has been proposed to connect the upper ends of the carrying straps movably to the fixture, either by means of a cross member, secured movably to the fixture, or by means of a roll device which makes possible a limited movement of the upper ends of the straps.

Even if this mode of connection to some extent operates to equalize the alternating increase in pressure before mentioned, it cannot be fully effective as an alternating tightening of the carrier straps during the movement of the carriers body always occurs owing to the fact that the lower ends of said straps are firmly secured to the fixture.

The object of the present invention is to remove said drawback, and to that end means are provided by which the lower ends of the carrying straps are movably secured to the carryingfixture in such a manner that the straps proper may move in relation to each other and to the fixture so that the weight of the load at all times is equally distributed on the shoulders.

The invention is by way of example illustrated in the annexed drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the carrying-fixture for a knapsack,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a view illustrating a detail.

In the drawing denotes the frame of a carrying fixture, which frame at the lower end has a rearwardly extending bail 2 having a downwardly bent rear portion 3, which together with the upwardly and forwardly bent lower ends 4 of the frame tubes constitute legs by which the fixture is supported in upright position. 5 denotes a strap connecting the upwardly bent portions 4 of the frame tubes and serving to rest against the back of the carrier and 6 denotes a waist strap extending from the strap 5.

The upper ends of the carrying straps are secured to a cross member 8, which by means of a ball-and-socket joint 8 is connected with the frame 2 at the upper portion thereof. Each of the carrying straps consists of a relatively broad upper portion 10 adapted to rest on the shoulder.

At its lower end the portion I0 is provided with a ring I l for detachable connection with a hook I2, secured to the upper end of a smaller strap I3, the lower end of which is adjustably secured to a buckle M, which on its side is secured, preferably detachably, to one end of a bendable but not stretchable member, preferably a wire l5.

Between the tubes of the frame I at the lower end thereof is secured a tube 1 which is somewhat bent in its longitudinal direction. The end portions of said tube 1 are bent upwardly and forwardly and are secured to the bail 2 as well as to the tubes of the frame I as shown.

The member I5, which connects the lower ends of the straps I3, is inserted in the tube 1 in which it may be displaced in its longitudinal direction.

By the movement of the carriers shoulders, the member l5 slides in the tube 1 and equalizes displacements of the carrier straps so that the pressure of the load at all times is equally distributed on the shoulders.

By the arrangement described above the connection between the lower ends of the carrier straps and the frame may be displaced more backwards nearer the centre of gravity of the load.

As will be understood the lower connected ends of the carrier straps may be secured movably or slidably to the fixture, without therefore securing the upper ends of said straps movably, as the equalizing and distribution effect described still is obtained, but if the upper end of the carrier straps also are movably secured to the fixture, eventual relative movement between the straps and the shoulders is diminished or respectively avoided.

In order to facilitate the movement of the member 15, rolls it) (Figure 3) may be mounted at the ends of the tube 1 secured preferably to the tubes of the frame I.

Instead of the connecting member 15, the straps l3 may be produced in a single piece and be guided in the tube 1, 'by rolls or other means secured to the fixture so that the movability in relation to the fixture aimed at, is obtained. Further the lower ends of the carrying straps may be connected to the fixture by means of levers, a line drum, on which the straps are twisted in such a manner that if one strap is lengthened the other is shortened, or the like.

I claim:

1. A carrying fixture including in combination, a frame, a waist belt fixed to the lower portion of the frame, carrying straps having the upper ends thereof connected to the upper portion of the frame, and a flexible member slidably mounted on the lower portion of the frame and having its opposite ends connected to the lower ends of the adjacent carrying straps whereby vertical movement of either carrying strap is transmitted to the other so as to equalize the load on the wearer.

2. A carrying fixture comprising a frame, a waist belt fixed to the lower portion of the frame, carrying straps the upper ends of which are secured to the upper end of said frame, a guide member at the lower end of the frame, a flexible member slidable with respect to the guide memher and having its respective ends connected to the lower ends of the adjacent carrying straps whereby vertical movement of either strap is transmitted to the other.

3. A carrying fixture as claimed in claim 2 in which the guide member is in the form of a curved tube secured transversely to the lower portion of the frame.

4. A carrying fixture as claimed in claim 2, in which a roller member is secured to the frame adjacent each end of the guide member to provide a rolling surface for the flexible member.

ROLF HJORTH J OHANSEN. 

